Tag Archives: Jerusalem

“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is urging the Arab world to issue a strong reaction to US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by recognizing East Jerusalem as the ‘occupied capital of the Palestinian state.’ ‘With this decision, Israel, which is responsible for occupation, blockade, unlawful settlements, home demolitions, evictions, land asset appropriations, disproportionate violence and murders, was rewarded for all its terrorist actions,’ Erdogan told delegates at Wednesday’s Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul. … The US'[s] decision on Jerusalem provoked worldwide condemnation from leaders, Arab and otherwise, and sparked violent protests across the Arab world …. However, no state has yet announced any concrete measures against the US or Israel.” (12/13/17)

“The US is taking the Israeli government’s side is one of the major sticking points in the broader Israel-Palestine conflict. This naturally caused a sharp reaction from Muslim-majority nations that sympathize with the Palestinians. It also drew condemnation from as European nations that see the one-sided move as sabotaging any possible peace negotiations. … the outrage expressed by Palestinians and others about this decision is clearly understandable. But when we take a longer-term view of the matter, Trump’s decision may actually be a gift to the Palestinian cause — albeit an unintentional one.” (12/12/17)

“An armored bus traveling in the West Bank near the settlement of Ofra was fired upon on Sunday. Israeli forces searching for suspects found 11 rounds of bullets in the area. No casualties were reported. In the northern Israeli town of Shfaram a woman was slightly injured when stones were thrown at a city bus. … The Palestinian Red Crescent reported Sunday that it treated some 60 wounded people in the West Bank and Gaza in what is now the fourth day of clashes between Palestinian protesters and security forces. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 10 of the casualties were wounded by live fire, while another 40 suffered from tear gas inhalation.” (12/10/17)

“The leader of Egypt’s Coptic Church has cancelled an upcoming meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence, protesting against Washington’s move to declare Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The move by Pope Tawadros II on Saturday came a day after Palestinian leaders also said that Pence, who is scheduled to visit the region later this month, was not welcome in the occupied territories. … On Friday, the grand imam of Cairo’s Al-Azhar Mosque also said that he would not meet Pence, according to Egyptian media. ‘How can I sit with those who granted what they do not own to those who do not deserve it,’ said Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb.” (12/09/17)

“Two [Palestinian Arabs] have been shot dead in Gaza by the Israeli army, the first people killed in clashes that began after Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Palestinian [Arab] protesters clashed with Israeli troops across the West Bank as worshippers throughout the Muslim world took to the streets after the weekly Friday midday prayers to vent their fury at Trump’s decision. A third man was in critical condition after being shot in the head during the clashes. … Late on Friday, Israeli warplanes bombed militant targets in Gaza in response to a rocket [allegedly] fired at nearby Israeli towns. The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least 25 people were wounded in the strikes, including six children.” (12/08/17)

“Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Thursday called for a new Palestinian intifada, or uprising, over US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. ‘This Zionist policy supported by the US cannot be confronted unless we ignite a new intifada,’ the head of the armed Palestinian terrorist group that runs the Gaza Strip said in a speech in Gaza City. Several thousand Palestinians marched in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, burning US and Israeli flags while chanting ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel.’ In the West Bank, The Palestine Liberation Organization announced a strike in protest across the territory, shutting schools and businesses.” (12/07/17)

“Pope Francis said, ‘I cannot remain silent.’ The United Nations secretary general spoke of his ‘great anxiety.’ The European Union expressed ‘serious concern.’ American allies like Britain, France, Germany and Italy all declared it a mistake. A chorus of international leaders criticized the Trump administration’s decision on Wednesday to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel as a dangerous disruption that contravenes several United Nations resolutions and could inflame one of the world’s thorniest conflicts. … Critics of the announcement said the change in policy removed any pretense that the United States is a neutral broker for peace. Palestinians and other Arabs in the region already view the Trump administration as leaning toward Israel’s right-wing government. The change in American policy ‘destroys the peace process,’ said the Palestinian prime minister, Rami Hamdallah.” (12/06/17)

“Three Republican senators have introduced legislation to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s official capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, a plan backed by Donald Trump but likely to ignite fierce protests. After being sworn into the 115th Congress in Washington, Ted Cruz of Texas, Dean Heller of Nevada and Marco Rubio of Florida unveiled the Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act. Similar moves by Republican majorities over the past two decades have come to nought, but this time they have a sympathetic president-elect in Trump. He has repeatedly pledged to relocate the embassy to Jerusalem and nominated a US ambassador who shares that view.” (01/03/17)

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